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Fanny's Dream
In this inventive take on the traditional Cinderella tale, Fanny Agnes is a sturdy farm girl with a big dream. Someday, she believes, she will marry a prince. When the town mayor announces he is throwing a grand ball, Fanny is convinced her time has come. She puts on her best calico dress and goes out to the garden so that she'll be ready when her fairy godmother arrives. As the seconds tick by, Fanny waits and waits. Finally, she hears a voice. It isn't her fairy godmother-but it is someone who will change her life forever.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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1497 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 284 reviews
April 3, 2008
Forget kids, this picture book is for every married woman who has just once wondered what would have happened if... A great, practical story where they fairy godmother coming too late ends up being a blessing, not a curse. This will forever reside in a place of honor on my bookshelf, & thank you mom for giving it to me. (Notice it's illustrated by my kids favorite illustrator, Mark Beuhner.)
February 7, 2017
I have erased my paragraphs of heartfelt thoughts and will simply say this book is worth your time!
January 30, 2018
Fanny wants to marry a Prince or something like that-something like the mayor’s son. On the night of the ball she waits for her fairy godmother and is laughed at by people. A man, Fanny knows comes to talk to her as she waits. He proposes marriage and Fanny decides that her dreams were childish and does so. Her fairy godmother comes years later and in the end Fanny decides she is happy with the life she chosen. The moral of the story is that we do not need a prince to be happy.
May 26, 2016
Despite this book's interesting and surprising ending, I was completely dismayed by this book and wonder how it could have gotten so many 4 star ratings! Fanny had dreams and she settled for less than she wanted. Why is that a good lesson for girls? I understand that you need to have realistic dreams and that you often find unexpected things to be rewarding, but that does not mean girls should have to totally give up their dreams. I also understand that Heber, who she ultimately marries, is a great guy, but he had dreams that he got to live out. Why were Fanny's dreams less important than his? It would have been easy for these authors to have included Fanny's dreams as part of a story where she married a common man and had kids. She could have had a career or even a serious hobby and still raised a family. If you have dreams for your daughter that go beyond marriage and kids, if you want your daughter to dream and strive, don't let her read this book. It is plain and simple indoctrination that a woman's place is beside her man and that you can't have a life if you don't have a husband and kids! I thought we as a society were at least trying to treat our daughters like our sons but apparently these authors and the four and five star reviewers do not agree!
April 20, 2009
This book takes a fairytale and adds a practical twist. It shows that true love can happen even if you don't marry a prince, even if you have to work hard, even if life doesn't turn out the way you expect it to. Although I love a great fairytale, I still think it's important to teach that relationships require hard work, compromise, disappointment, and frustration. But through these hard experiences, relationships develop and love grows. It's cute and it's fun and I love the message. In the classroom, this story could be used in the dramatic play center or drama center where the students can act out this different kind of fairy tale.
December 16, 2008
I absolutley loved this book! I just cried for half an hour with my two older children wanting to know what was wrong. This is the sweetest "children's" book I have ever read. Having waited a little longer than most girls to get married, I can attest to belated blessings. My husband is the most perfect husband I could have ever asked for and he treats me like a princess every single day. What a wonderful story with a beautiful message!
April 7, 2009
Everyone should read this book to their children. It is a different telling of the Cinderella story, but instead of being beautiful, Fanny is normal. It makes you step back and look at what happily ever after really means, and it is wonderful. I am so sad that it took me until my sophomore year of college to ever hear about it and read it. Get it now!
May 16, 2012
I was spending time with one of our Institute of Religion missionaries tonight and she took out this book and read it to me (she used to be an elementary school teacher...) It is absolutely delightful! I would recommend this to everyone. It is a children's book, but the message is perfect for those who are looking for Prince Charming.
February 6, 2020
What a delightful take on the Cinderella story. I am so grateful that her fairy godmother was late and that she got a truly wonderful and ordinary life! Of course, the fact that it takes place in Wyoming helps. However, I cannot think where in Wyoming one might be able to grow melons...
February 13, 2017
Title: Fanny’s Dream
Author: Caralyn Buehner
Illustrator: Mark Buehner
Publisher: Puffin Books
Date: 1996
Grade Level: 2
Lexile: 790L
Pages: 32
Guided Reading Level: N
Genre: Twist on traditional fairy tale
Summary: This is a hilarious twist on the traditional story of Cinderella. Fanny wanted to meet her fairy godmother and marry a prince. When she thought it was going to happen she waited and waited. Instead of her fairy godmother showing up, one of her friends did instead and they ended up talking together all night instead of going to the ball. They get married at the beginning of the story and they live a wonderful life together and have 3 children. The fairy godmother comes late into the story to make Fanny an offer. I love this story and would read it in a classroom because it depicts real life and is very entertaining to read. Students still get the feel of the traditional story but can enjoy the funny twist put in where the main character does not rely on her fairy godmother.
Teaching Ideas: This would be a great story to use with students comparing traditional and contemporary fairy tales. The students could compare and contrast the different stories and even come up with their contemporary twist on a fairy tale.
CCSS.ELA.-Literacy.RL.2.9
Compare and contrast two or more versions of the same story (e.g., Cinderella stories) by different authors or from different cultures.
Author: Caralyn Buehner
Illustrator: Mark Buehner
Publisher: Puffin Books
Date: 1996
Grade Level: 2
Lexile: 790L
Pages: 32
Guided Reading Level: N
Genre: Twist on traditional fairy tale
Summary: This is a hilarious twist on the traditional story of Cinderella. Fanny wanted to meet her fairy godmother and marry a prince. When she thought it was going to happen she waited and waited. Instead of her fairy godmother showing up, one of her friends did instead and they ended up talking together all night instead of going to the ball. They get married at the beginning of the story and they live a wonderful life together and have 3 children. The fairy godmother comes late into the story to make Fanny an offer. I love this story and would read it in a classroom because it depicts real life and is very entertaining to read. Students still get the feel of the traditional story but can enjoy the funny twist put in where the main character does not rely on her fairy godmother.
Teaching Ideas: This would be a great story to use with students comparing traditional and contemporary fairy tales. The students could compare and contrast the different stories and even come up with their contemporary twist on a fairy tale.
CCSS.ELA.-Literacy.RL.2.9
Compare and contrast two or more versions of the same story (e.g., Cinderella stories) by different authors or from different cultures.
March 30, 2009
Ok, it's a kid's book. Still it is a great read.
Fanny a sturdy country girl just knows that her fairy godmother will come and she will marry a prince "or at least the mayor's son." So when the mayor throws a ball, Fanny waits in the garden for her fairy godmother. Instead of her godmother, along comes Heber. Heber proposes. "Even with all that moonlight it took Fanny an hour to give up her dreams. She shook Heber awake. 'I don't do windows.' 'Okay,' said Heber." Thus begins their life together. You can see there is a great deal of affection and caring throughout the challenges that come their way.
Eventually Fanny's fairy godmother shows up "Sorry I'm late!" and urges Fanny to go to the ball because a visiting colonel will be attending. Fanny hears Heber reading to their children in the home they've built together and says nope!
The story is beautiful and the illustrations are just fantastic!
I think I will purchase this book for my little girl who wants to be a princess.
Fanny a sturdy country girl just knows that her fairy godmother will come and she will marry a prince "or at least the mayor's son." So when the mayor throws a ball, Fanny waits in the garden for her fairy godmother. Instead of her godmother, along comes Heber. Heber proposes. "Even with all that moonlight it took Fanny an hour to give up her dreams. She shook Heber awake. 'I don't do windows.' 'Okay,' said Heber." Thus begins their life together. You can see there is a great deal of affection and caring throughout the challenges that come their way.
Eventually Fanny's fairy godmother shows up "Sorry I'm late!" and urges Fanny to go to the ball because a visiting colonel will be attending. Fanny hears Heber reading to their children in the home they've built together and says nope!
The story is beautiful and the illustrations are just fantastic!
I think I will purchase this book for my little girl who wants to be a princess.
November 14, 2019
I am not sure I have every been as horrified by messages in a children's book. It took Fanny an hour to give up her dreams and marry a man she did not love. Sure, I have no problem with telling young girls not to wait for a prince, and maybe the reality of women in prior generations was that marriage was the only path to security, but I really do not need my young daughter's internalizing that they will grow to be happy with a man just because he was the only one who would ask them.
November 4, 2010
This book (a twist on Cinderella) is an all-time favorite. For every girl out there who lives in reality but still wants a bit of romance. It makes me cry every time I read it.
Thank heavens for every Heber out there that makes his sweetheart feel like a princess.
Thank heavens for every Heber out there that makes his sweetheart feel like a princess.
April 18, 2014
An adorable and profound take on the Cinderella support which teaches that real life is sometimes better an fairy tales. This book is a treasure and I look forward to buying it for my personal library.
October 31, 2008
A funny look at how our dreams sometimes turn out. It is heartwarming to see that Fanny loves her "prince" even though he isn't what she thought she wanted.
November 8, 2008
A spin on the Cinderella story. Not all happily ever after stories need a prince or beautiful girl to make them happy.
May 17, 2013
Sarcastic review - A great book to remind little girls that their best bet is to settle for a husband so at least they get one.
September 20, 2015
I was surprised to see that this one was actually written (and published) in the 21st Century. It takes the Women's Movement back by decades, perhaps even a century or two...
February 5, 2016
I just love this. I love the idea that a prince isn't always what you think he should be and that life is what you choose. So sweet!
June 29, 2009
Great book, great message.
February 28, 2021
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
This fairy tale book is suitable for students in second grade and up, A young girl who grew up on a farm and could do several things, including horseback riding, sewing, and other crafts. However, she had BIG dreams of being a princess to a prince. Even though the young girl wishes to be a princess, she tells her friends, and they insult her, and her brother made fun of her when she told him about her fairy godmother. The girl expected her fairy god mother's arrival so she could attend the grand ball, where she can mees her prince, but she never came. However, someone appears, but it was not the fairy god mother. The farm girl had no idea that she would eventually meet her prince, but not at the grand ball and have two little prince and a princess. I would like to educate students on value and that they can be whoever they want to be, and they should always think positively. It does not guarantee that your dream will come true the next day, however it will if you keep believing in it. You must, however, believe and maintain a positive attitude for your dreams to come true. Success comes from you and it should not matter what you have or do not have to be successful and reaching your BIG dreams.
This fairy tale book is suitable for students in second grade and up, A young girl who grew up on a farm and could do several things, including horseback riding, sewing, and other crafts. However, she had BIG dreams of being a princess to a prince. Even though the young girl wishes to be a princess, she tells her friends, and they insult her, and her brother made fun of her when she told him about her fairy godmother. The girl expected her fairy god mother's arrival so she could attend the grand ball, where she can mees her prince, but she never came. However, someone appears, but it was not the fairy god mother. The farm girl had no idea that she would eventually meet her prince, but not at the grand ball and have two little prince and a princess. I would like to educate students on value and that they can be whoever they want to be, and they should always think positively. It does not guarantee that your dream will come true the next day, however it will if you keep believing in it. You must, however, believe and maintain a positive attitude for your dreams to come true. Success comes from you and it should not matter what you have or do not have to be successful and reaching your BIG dreams.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2017
In this inventive take on the traditional Cinderella tale, Fanny Agnes is a sturdy farm girl with a big dream. Someday, she believes, she will marry a prince. When the town mayor announces he is throwing a grand ball, Fanny is convinced her time has come. She puts on her best calico dress and goes out to the garden so that she'll be ready when her fairy godmother arrives. As the seconds tick by, Fanny waits and waits. Finally, she hears a voice. It isn't her fairy godmother-but it is someone who will change her life forever.
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October 21, 2021This is a really sweet story about a girl looking to find a prince because she read about it in a story, but when a guy friend of hers reaches out about how he will treat her like a princess and they put in work to make each other happy, it ended up not mattering who they were because they were happy together. My fear with this book is that it shows the idea to not follow through with your dreams, but it also promotes that even if your exact dream doesn't happen it means you could find something better. I like this book for entertainment.
February 7, 2018
Picture Book #7
This book is about Fanny who has always dreamed of marrying a prince, but marries a farmer. By the end she discovers that the farmer is her prince. I liked this book and it has a good message but I don't know if I would ever use it in my classroom. The message of the book seems more appropriate for older ages.
This book is about Fanny who has always dreamed of marrying a prince, but marries a farmer. By the end she discovers that the farmer is her prince. I liked this book and it has a good message but I don't know if I would ever use it in my classroom. The message of the book seems more appropriate for older ages.
January 3, 2022
I reread this book with my daughter yesterday and I still love it as much today as I did when my mother read it to me in 1996. A Cinderella tale with a twist, this sweet story shows that sometimes the truest princes and princesses aren't the ones living in a palace but the ones who are willing to work for their dreams.
October 18, 2017
I really enjoyed this story, because its a non-traditional fairy-tale. Fanny has dreams of marrying a prince, and live in a palace. She patiently awaits her fairy god mother. However Fanny ends up making her own dreams come true. The pictures follow the text well, and it is quite entertaining.
March 26, 2019
I'm not really sure how I felt about this book. On the one hand I think it's a good message to appreciate the life you have and find happiness there, but on the other hand, I don't think that people should give up their dreams. I think it's ok to have both!
April 22, 2019
A great child's book. The illustrations and stories are wonderful. Fanny waiting on going to the ball and Fanny's fairy godmother. She falls for Heber and they raise children. It's an amazing book for kids of all ages.
May 17, 2019
Fanny's Dream is simple wonderful! Fanny, a very hopeful Cinderella learns that real life is so much more wonderful than a wishful, fanciful dream. Fanny looks back on that dream with absolutely no regret knowing her prince really is her prince in every way that matters.
December 10, 2019
I could relate to this story. A young hardworking woman wishes to marry a prince and live happily ever after. So she waits for her fairy godmother to grant her wishes. Instead she marries a kind farmer and continues working hard. Find out what happens when the fairy godmother finally appears!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 284 reviews